Saturday, December 19, 2009

So much has happened in the last two months that it is hard to put it all into words. Suffice to say that I am going into the 2009 holiday season with a renewed spirit and being more upbeat and happier than I have been in many years! Right now I'm typing to you from (drum roll!) northern New Jersey (Ridgewood) where I'm spending the Christmas week with family and friends--at the opposite end from the 85 degree California weather! It is wonderful! Snow tonight--and I haven't had that for many a moon, and I'm looking forward to the pleasure of the cold, crisp crunch (reminding me of the skiing I used to do!) and comfortable with the knowledge that I don't have to live with it, nor shovel it.

Here's the new design for the postcards that I'll be using for the winter and early spring business cards. Those of you who have DVDs from me have the earlier, lighter green ones. These are all new paintings from 2009, and feature the first painting from the fourth, new DVD "Misty Light and Twilight". I'll have them when I return--amazing Internet!

I did bring my acrylics for this ten-day trip, and will be painting some still life works (the pears in the market here were SO beautiful!) and perhaps some SNOW scenes. Plein air is not an option because outside it is in the high 20s--and I don't have the gear for keeping them thawed. I've painted snow scenes plein air before, however I don't think Sparky would enjoy sitting around with his short little legs in a snowbank. Yes, he is with me, flying under the seat on the 747.

There are plans afoot for a three-day Color Boot Camp over President's Day Weekend (February 13-15) in 2010. Interested? Email me...

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas/Holiday time with people who care about you, and that you'll keep going with me as I stretch new wings into 2010.

You can see my entire blog HERE.And of course you can sign up for it HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

I've been thinking about doing a series of "elemental" horse images for a while--featuring the four classic elements of earth, air, fire and water. I've been playing with this one for a couple of nights--guess which element this is?? I'll likely change and revise it yet more once I've thought about it for a while. Sometimes the images I'm excited about having created at night go into the "what was I thinking?" folder the next morning, but for the moment I feel this has potential.

As always with my work of late, it started as a photograph, then went elsewhere. There's a reason my business card says "reality is only a starting point"

Who knows how many times Chiquita walked directly into the swimming pool, only to be surprised by the fact that, yes, it was a swimming pool, and no, she couldn't swim. ﻿So she wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box - but she was by far the favorite.

Chiquita passed away earlier this year, and this painting will be an absolute surprise come Christmas morning, as big a shock to her Mom as the cold swimming pool was to the old girl.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family.

Monday, November 30, 2009

I've missed you ALL, and am back! Life has settled down and I'm painting again, and I so appreciate your emails asking how things were going. Here is the finished painting for the DVD on Misty Light and Rainy Days (title still up in the air). I'll be starting the seond painting this week, and will continue to fill your email with its progress. Then the editing and master disk to the duplication service, and this one will be finished--the FOURTH in the Color System DVDs.

I never even opened the warm box for this painting, and I believe that the time of day is effectively conveyed by just the subtle use of the lovely grays--green, red, orange, purple and the earth tones to accent. Misty morning light with NO distinct light source, nor strong shadows. I'm pleased wiht it, and can hardly wait to start the next one!

The workshop in November was a rousing success (I'll post some of the demos and images from that one in the week ahead) and I'm scheduling another three day Color Boot Camp in February of next year. Lots of good art and learning comes from these sessions, so if you can make the time (three and a half days), you'll definitely be a beneficiary of the "CS". HA!

Now it is back to the easel to get the digital tapes and set up for the next painting. Yippee! I'm Baaaaaack!

You can see my entire blog HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Finished.
Hurricane is my first drawing this big.
The result was well worth the extra hours.In this post I thought it would be nice to share the set of instructions used for preparing and producing this specific drawing.
(p.s:The ingredients used can be found worldwide, the way in which they are combined comes from trial and error.)

In a warm studio, over angled drawing board, outline subject and study eyes, movement and light. Add a pinch of passion and bring inner vision to a simmer.

Place paper on foam board. Tape corners with artist tape. Secure and set aside.

Turn on music.

Review sketch and bring to parchment. Begin eyes to get a perfect expression.

On a clear drawing board, under good light, add more work to overall subject. Pin down the darks and gradually stir in the lighter values. Allow the lighter grays melt into the drawing, and then add detail to the mix. Work gently for approximately 65 hours until the values are completely coated with details.

Wild and Free is a 5.5"x7" bronze. Finished in a beautiful buckskin patina. Sculpted my Deanna Cummins who was inspired by the wild mustang. She depicts the graceful horse shying away from a seemingly strange object which he has just discovered.

For more information about this and other works by Deanna Cummins please visit www.worldofequinesculpture.com or contact her directly dncummins06@yahoo.com

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Earlier this year I was invited to create this years work of art to feature on all advertising for the ISS Summer Classic Show jumping event here in Australia. The committee have purchased the original work of art to be gifted to the shows main sponsor.

As an added bonus I get to have a display of my artwork on at the p resentation evening. Very exciting for me as there will be some big names in the equestrian world of show jumping attending.

Friday, October 30, 2009

We all have fears that hold us back from the dreams we have. This painting is about letting go of the fears that stand in the way of growth – and the joy and confidence that a life without fear allows us. 16x20, framed in wide black wood frame. Click here for more info.

PS Want a great gift this holiday season? Then order either one of the Painting a Dog a Day books - they are gorgeous summaries of the Dog a Day paintings. Painting a Dog a Day - the First Year covers 2006-2007, and That's 14 in Dog Years covers 2008. Information on how to order each book is on the Painting a Dog a Day blog and thestudio website.

PPS The response to yesterday's painting was Phenomenal. I have added "Cairn Curiousity" to my Imagekind shop, so that you can order notecards or poster reprints to your heart's content. Thank you so much for supporting my art!

Monday, October 26, 2009

The DVD painting is coming along well, and now the second layer of color has been added over the stronger hued first pass.

No details at this point, and still more to do to reduce the color intensities in various areas (can we say "purple"?), but the basic time of day is now coming across clearly.

The filming is going quite well, although my painting has been slowed down by "life events" of late. I'm hangin' in there, and can see the light at the end of the tunnel--and it isn't a train coming! One good thing is the loss of weight--I'm down over 25 pounds and with exercise and good nutrition, continue to find curves and places I forgot I had.

And here's Onslow sound asleep yet again--ah, to have that ability to just leave all worries behind and go "toes up" for a good night! He's actually curved around my hip as I sit in my office chair--those are my jeans, and that's the black arm of the office chair going off the top edge. Comfy, Onnie? Yeah, me too. Fur kids. Gotta love 'em.

You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Finally this painting is done...a casein on canvas...30 x 40" and Titled "Beautiful Blonde Belgians".... painted from a photo that I took at a local fair this summer. We spent that day watching the draft pulling teams and eating blooming onions and blueberry pie. All rites of summer in Maine. The start of the state agricultural fairs reminds us that winter is not far away.Actually last night we had a brief taste of winter as big fluffy cotton balls like flakes fell from the dark night sky and covered the farm with a heavy wet blanket. By morning it all was gone...but we got the message. We need to get EVERYTHING done outside and ready the farm for the months that lie ahead. Point taken.This casein will be put up on my website.....and I will get back to commissions that need being done.....and some new work for galleries that I am with.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

I have been working on the first painting for the newest DVD, and it is really fun! The canvas is an 18 x 24 inch panel, and is being done in oils. I'm focusing on how to compose a painting, how to paint using the Color System, and in this case, how to specifically create a misty light situation across distance in a landscape.

At this stage, I usually call it "being in the Uglies", but even now, you can easily see the harmonious colors and related shapes, although the edges and details are long ahead and yet to be found. I've done about 40 minutes of filming at this phase, and will be editing for content and quality when I go into the "cave" to work on the master movie files.

However, for this DVD I'm actually doing the editing as I shoot each sequence, which seems to keep me more focused on what I need to convey to you, the watcher. Below is the painting at an earlier stage, showing how I cover the canvas. Of course, the vocal commentary while I paint is continuous. And yup. There are definitely outtakes--such as when the canvas fell off the easel!

So, come with me on the journey as I complete this painting and the next one for this new adventure! I am quite sure that the second painting will be done in acrylics, so both media will be well represented. And the Color System crosses all media, so that's not going to be an issue, is it?

You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Here's the finished 11 x 14 oil commission of the Tennessee Walker done and ready to ship. Yes, the Odie boy is a light champagne instead of palomino, so most of the finish work to the signature was done on his coloration. The new owner is very pleased, and so am I that I can present this to her sister. This rescue horse has helped her in many ways--just like my animals around me offer support and unconditional love as I meander through my waking moments.

But meandering is not on the agenda for the next few days as I work on filming the paintings for the next DVD--"Misty Light and Twilight Paintings" (or something like that). Titles come later. Below is the first image for the first of two paintings--the 18 x 24 oil that will be misty light. I won't share all the details (Because that will be in the DVD as I never hush up while filming!) but will let you peek at the progress on this one and the next one as the filming goes forward. Then there will be 16-hour days in the cave with the Mac G5 and the editing software to put all the pieces together into the master DVD for the duplication service. Yes, I do it alone...sigh.

And then there's the cover, the DVD label, the packaging and getting the DVDs ready to ship when they come back from the duplication service. Can you say "where's the wine?"

You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Monday, October 12, 2009

"Heads or Tails?," 8" x 16", acrylic on canvasboard, portrait of several broncos, $599. Inquiries may always come to me.

I think this painting is done, then I leave it for a few minutes, only to discover another change I'd like to make. So I'm reserving the right to simmer with this guy and figure out just what he needs. I'll use Photoshop and make my alterations on the computer screen prior to changing anything on the painting, this way I can work out a number of different scenarios.

My game plan is to send "Heads or Tails?," along with "Origami" to the Ex Arte Equinas competition. I have another image I'd like to paint as well, but my deadline is looming at the end of the month, so we'll see what the reality is.

Oh, and I must thank my friend Donna Ridgway for allowing me to purchase the rights to her fabulous bronco photos that inspired this piece, "Origami," and the painting to follow. Not having access to many rodeos in these parts, I am very grateful to Donna's expert eye and references for providing me with the inspiration to paint these pieces.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

I'm working on the TWH commission today, and have brought it further along, making the larger shapes in the background more interesting. It isn't finished yet, (no buyer approval at this stage) so I will be adding more grasses and details to the focal areas.And having the horse's head this way is due to the source material--tough all the way, with a winter/no sun/furry head shot and the other being inside an arena in summer coat. Verrrry tough! My question is whether the horse is a palomino or champagne color. I've painted it more as a palomino, but may have to rework it if I am told it isn't. Thus goes some issues with commissions.

I'm filming the video for the next DVD now, and loving every moment! I must be part actress, because the cameras are like old friends. I had a moment when I thought that there might be some consternation with hitting the "record" buttons, but nope! Action! After the filming comes the hours of editing... and then forming the results into a DVD master. If you don't hear from me for a few days, that'll be why.

In other news, fall is finally here with cool nights, and the garden boxes are full of the winter crops coming up--Swiss chard, beets, lettuces and lots of spinach!You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Those interested in the upcoming DVD on misty/twilight paintings will enjoy how this one is unfolding. I have a misty background working against a patch of sunlight which will illuminate the light palomino Tennessee Walking Horse in the composition. At this stage I'm only concerned with the separate areas of warm vs. cool and not at all with the anatomy or look of the big gelding. The sky will go in, and the bigger shapes in the background before I tackle the details. It is coming along.

On the home front, tomorrow night I open my studio for some artist friends to come and draw and paint from a live model. It's been in the works for a while, and I'm just tickled that they are coming over and it is all working out for us. It will be a great social evening with peers (I've missed those!) and camaraderie.

And renewing a friendship from years ago will be joyful as well--an artist of extraordinary talent, we have let too much time go by between laughter and art. His site is here. The scope of his work and the phenominal art glass he designs are awe inspiring and may take my own art in new directions.

The music rolls on, both on my piano and my head. I think I've played my piano more in the past few months than in all the last half decade! Gutsy ... joyful, poignant.

You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

I've started on the 11 x 14 oil of the Tennessee Walker commission here. Just the quick layin of the placement of the horse, and the division of space to show you that design begins from the first brush mark. The gift giver wants the full body and a relaxed pose in a pasture, so I am working from the long history of equine portraiture and moving it into a contemporary setting. Unfortunately, the source material isn't the greatest, and many artists would not have taken this one on. But the back-story on this horse and its relationship with its owner moved me so much... I'll unfold the story in the days to come.

This one will also have the changing values to focus your eyes on the horse, with the landscape being secondary. I've toned the canvas with the warm value to contrast nicely with the cool box colors that will make up the majority of the background.

On the home front, I'm having a bit of a "spring cleaning" time, moving things about and changing the uses of various parts of the house. It has been most enlightening, with new discovery of things unknown and finding things long forgotten. Now that the proverbial "dust" is settling, the new feeling in these rooms is very satisfying, and the two cats have found new places to sun themselves. Not exactly fung shui, but the results give me a "wicked good" grin. I guess spring cleaning doesn't have to happen in spring, eh?

The November workshop is shaping up to be the best one yet, with new lectures in the theater, and I'm looking forward to meeting new people interested in working with the Color System. And the cameras are pointing at the easel, with the painting after this one being featured in the first half of the new DVD on "Misty Light and Twilight" paintings. Camera, ACTION!!

You can see my entire blog HERE.My workshop schedule for 2009 is HERE.Color System information can be found HERE.If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

I started out heading somewhere else entirely this evening in my computer, and this is where I ended up. I've been trying to rationalize my ridiculously large photo files, and in theory I was going to edit client photos for the horse show CDs they've all been waiting patiently for, but I got noodling around with some of my unfinished photomontages instead, and this is one of the results. You just never know where you'll end up when you start out.....

Just wanted to add that my blog posts always end up looking paler and lighter when I load them than they do in "real life", not sure if it is a monitor/blog program thing or not, so if this looks a little pale, rest assured that really it is quite a rich and dark piece. Not sure how to correct this, or if it is even a problem on other people's monitors.

This is a small 6"x6" oil on canvas on panel I recently completed which will be on display and for sale at Dog and Horse Fine Art in Charleston, SC. Thank you to Dana Lee Thompson fro the Equine Art Guild for providing the image.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mules can be hard to resist! They have so much personality, and they can be so funny. This pair was showing off for us, and being especially silly when I caught this shot. It was easy to come up with the title!

This foal wasn't sure he was ready to carry a rider yet! And look at the way the cat is staring into his eyes, daring him to try to buck him off. It's fall, and the dandelion and milk weed pods are flying....

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

In the dark of night, the Unicorn Fairy comes to the most special of horses and makes them unicorns! (How else do you think they come into being?) You can see here, the fairy has her wand raised, and as soon as this horse bows his head around to her, she'll touch his forehead with her wand. Do you suppose it tickles his back, to have fairy feet walking on it?Donna Ridgwayartistreferencephotos@gmail.com

Monday, September 28, 2009

Origami (Broncs #1), 8" x 16", acrylic on canvasboard, depicting a variety of broncs, $599 to the first taker. Inquiries may always come to me. (This photo is washed out, for which I apologize - I will take a better shot in the sunlight tomorrow, should the sun choose to shine.)

My friend Donna Ridgway is a gifted artist and photographer. Last summer she took a series of rodeo shots, photos which called to me so strongly I asked for permission to paint them. I purchased the rights to create a series of paintings from her photographs, but hadn't gotten the chance to get the pieces started until today. (By the way, Donna sells both reprints of her photos and copyrights, in addition to her artwork - you can catch up with her life here.)

And I started today simply because of a looming deadline. I have yet to get juried into Ex Arte Equinas, a prestigious equine art exhibition and publication, but being the eternal optimist, I am not nearly ready to throw in the towel. Nothing's due till the end of October, so I've still got plenty of time to continue tweaking and working these ideas out.

Meanwhile, the notecard storefront is coming along! I'll be open for business tomorrow, so if you are interested in ordering cards with a Painting a Dog a Day image on them, let me know what you are looking for so that I can get it set up.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family.

Friday, September 25, 2009

This image was featured in the All About Rodeos group on Red Bubble. It's a digital compilation of two photos, and I used some Photoshop brushes to create the rain. The original photo was taken at the Choteau, Montana ranch rodeo.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

This is another piece that came about from my request for black (or white) subjects. When my client read that I was looking for muses, she sent photos of her big, black horse. Already having several paintings of her (not black or white) dogs, she rightly predicted I would flip over the photo that inspired this composition - the lighting, coupled with the fact they both were in stride together, was downright irresistable.

With this painting and a few other recent ones, I'm gathering confidence with my human portrait abilities. (Of course, it's far easier when their faces are turned away....) I hope to be able to accept commissions for them in the coming year.

Are you thinking about the holidays yet? I have been and there are a couple studio projects in the works, one being a storefront for greeting and note cards. If you are interested in ordering cards with a reproduction of your painting (or another image from the Painting a Dog a Day archives) please let me know. Include the title of the painting or the date it was shared (you can get this from the blog), and I'll create them on a first come first served basis. Raise your hand now and we'll get going!!

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I feel very honored to be the artist picked to have my casein painting "A Moment In time" chosen to grace the cover of the new equine magazine, 'The StableWoman Gazette"!! This painting is a commissioned work, commissioned by the husband of the woman in the painting...a gift for her birthday. I have blogged about this work before....the painting has been delivered and now hangs in their Ohio home.

"The StableWoman Gazette is a new online magazine style portal dedicated to ALL horsewomen worldwide! Featuring a wide variety of content, from articles and stories to art galleries, video shows, boutique shopping, stress relievers and much more!

This publication is for you and about you. There will be features that are informative on a host of subjects, but also it will include your participation and comments. Browse through the sections. There's something to please every horsewoman.

The StableWoman Gazette changes several times daily with news, stories and updates. So make The StableWoman Gazette your home page to visit and enjoy often.'

Check out this great e-magazine...it is a good read about timely equine news and great stories! and tell them that I sent you! ;-)

Friday, September 11, 2009

Since my right hand is in a brace, I was going to paint my pARTy painting (reference photo by Linda Shantz)with my left hand...I decided to use my right hand instead, giving myself 'one hour' by timer, just seeing what I will come up with...finishing after an agonizing hour, I decided it was finished, although different from my norm artworks it was good to see that it was not too tight...admittedly a struggle but I managed.

I've been painting a lot of small 5 x 7 Watercolors of children with their horses for the "Painting a child a day" project. These great little gems are full of emotion.
Many have been selling and if you would like to grab one or two for yourself, give me an email at debflood@debfloodart.com
You can also submit images of yours to me, for consideration in the Child a day. Each 5 x 7 is created on watercolor board with a half an inch white border and comes sealed in a clear sleeve, until you are ready to slip it into a mat and frame. Right now, if you purchase two or more the shipping is free within the USA.
You can see the whole collection, which started in April of 2009 at http://www.paintingachildaday.com
The end of September marks the end of 6 months for this project. The project will be running for a year. The first six months will be showcased in Volume 1 of "Painting a child a day" book. This book will certaily be a treasure keepsake. If you would like to put your name in to reserve a copy for you, send me an email. Place the words "Painting a child a day book" in the subject line, thank you, and include your name and contact info. I'm working hard to finish this book before the Holiday season kicks in.
You can also follow these paintings and other paintings on my Face book Fan page
It is much easier for me to communicate with you on that page. I also have an RSS Feed on there for you to recieve updates on Blog posts.
Thank you for following and enjoying my art.
Debbie

Saturday, September 5, 2009

I am sitting here posting this...still in my pj's! That is one of the perks of having my studio at home!!! But I got into this drawing this morning and forgot about everything else! So the dogs sit and wait to be walked for their mid-morning walk and here I am posting about this sketch that will be put up on a 30 x 40" canvas this afternoon. ...after I walk the poor pups! After I get dressed!Actually they have been busy watching from their deck perch as Les trims around all the gardens. I am sure our Corgi , Addie thinks he could do a better job!

This sketch on bristol paper is really too big to scan at 11 x 14", so I will have to photo it to really show all of it and my signature on the right bottom. As I explained before, I very often work out a sketch before putting paint on canvas or board. This sketch works for me...so I feel the 'need' to get into it.I am excited about the possibilities! Strike while the iron is hot!!! No???

Monday, August 24, 2009

I seemed to have settled into an area of 'speciality' thanks to the numerous murals I have done over the last couple of years. This specialty is painting life sized horses and farm animals. I paint portraits in oils on standard sized canvases and enjoy this very much but also have found a niche in painting large. In the photo you can see me working on a recent commission that will become an outdoor mural on an existing barn. The wood panels will be placed in the spot above a dutch door stall opening so from the house the owner can look out and see the family's much loved horses memorialized in their spot in the barn. I will be doing a whole series, each one a special horse in this family's lives over the years.

I loved this idea! We also have some special horses in our lives as I am sure many of you do too! My daughter's horse Flicka in particular is a once in a lifetime horse. I could not of asked for a sweeter, kinder soul to carry my daughter thru her childhood! Flicka is still with us but I want to remember this idea and do the same when the time comes so I can look out my window to my barn and remember some very special times of my daughter's childhood.

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